All this paranoia about muscle dogs is probably caused by unsuitable owners with unsuitable dogs. Some people who encourage aggressive behaviour in their dogs because they think it is macho to own a vicious dog should be banned from owning any dog. These irresponsible owners give beautiful breeds like pitbulls and other muscle dogs a very bad reputation. We all want our dogs to be protective of us but not overtly aggressive. Even small breeds can be very dangerous if not properly and treated. In the year 2000 a little pomeranian mix killed a six week old baby in Southern California. Does anyone agree blame the deed not the breed?

Im in the UK where breeds like Pittbulls can be taken away and destroyed if found to be a banned breed or a cross of that type.The arguement has always been that although a smaller dog still has the capability to bite-the damage is often less severe compared to a larger type and offers less resistence.
I think better breeding control or possibly a licencing system is a way of stopping people who really shouldnt be owning a goldfish let alone a large,powerful dog.No breed should be tarred with same brush because of isolated incidents.

I totally agree, that the owners of these lovely dogs are to blame. Where I live, these dogs are treated like status symbols, and that in itself is cruel.

Some police officer ordered a police dog destroyed because it was doing what it was trained to do in the midst of a fighting gang of youths bit the ear of one of participants. the officer has now transferred to the RSPCA. Now a felon who bitten while running away is demanding compensation and for the dog to be destroyed. Some justice for these animals doing what they are trained to do!!

You are so right. Animal cruelty is a horrid problem.

In the US a star athelete, Mike Vick, is being prosicuted for a multi-million dollar dog fighting operation. People take children to these inhumane events

If they would put the owners in lock up and humanely euthanise them it might help. Killing the dogs won`t cure the problem.

Here in denmark, pitts and tosa and mixes of these are forbidden... but they do exist here.. and some people are using them as status symbols... they are also doing the same with the amstaffs... its sad, very sad...
I have seen the movie, "Off the chain"... I cried for the dogs...
Mankind is mean to many animals...

i just moved to a town where rotties are deemed vicious animals how garbage is that. SO now my dog who has never in her life been muzzled must be and due to tha cannot be aprt of playing with the kids unless inour yrad.

Don`t blame the breed at all. Blame the breeders who think it`s cool to take the two most aggressive dogs they can find and mate them together. Blame the thugs who buy the dogs and then do everything in their power to coax the hostility and aggression out of them. Then you have to blame each and every person who spends money at one of the illegal events where they dogs are matched. You also have to blame every single person who sees this happening and says or does nothing about it.

I have a boxer. I can`t tell you how many times I have been approached by people who want to know if they can breed her with their pit bull. Some people are so dumb, they think she is a pit bull (never mind her height, which is twice a pit`s.)

As for rotties, I have met one, about three years ago. I still have slobber stains all over my blouse where he wouldn`t stop mooching me. I have aneighbor with mastiffs and my God-they are the sweetest lumps of love I know (next to my own, that is)

People who mistreat animals suck.

Totally agree with every word Belle said it is so true.

I have a american buldog and he is the frinlyest dog u can find, as all the other ones of same breed that i kow.

But still the goverment in Norway will band them because of people that should not have a dog at all. Thy use them in dog fights, mix breedings and dont care if the dog bites ore atacks anyone.

It is the humans that is the problem. Not the dogs. They just do what they are trained to do.

I just found this thread. I wish I would have found it 20 minutes ago. I just posted the saddest story you will ever hear in dogs in media. We have been involved in pit bull rescue for 3 years now and own 2 ourselves. These are definately the most misunderstood breed of them all. The media bias and ignorance of humankind just perpetuates the problem. Thank heavens we live in a state where bsl is actually against the law. I have had some extra special people ask if they can use my neutered male to breed. Unbelievable.

Banning some dog breeds are ridicuolous. Decent dog owners are responsible for their dogs and raises them properly. But all kind of "tough guys" owns banned breeds anyway if they want. Police confiscates their pit bulls or etc...so what? They will get another one. Luckily here, in Estonia are not banned dog breeds, otherwise I would have to move in to the other country because I am not the "poodle person".

i agree as an avid dog lover, i love all breeds and enjoy learning more about each breed, every dog who is loved by there owner will instinctivly defend them if the need ever arose but a well trained dog would/should never feel the need to attack another dog or human if the owner trained the dog properly, every dog can attack big or small some have been bred to have a much stronger instinct to protect/defend/attack but its the breeders responsability to sell to new owners who respect and understand the breed and then its the responsibility of the new owners to properly train the dog so it is able to mix with other humans/dogs/animals without any repercusions, most attacks occur by dogs because of irrisponsible owners they should be the ones who are punished xx

All this paranoia about muscle dogs is probably caused by unsuitable owners with unsuitable dogs. Some people who encourage aggressive behaviour in their dogs because they think it is macho to own a vicious dog should be banned from owning any dog. These irresponsible owners give beautiful breeds like pitbulls and other muscle dogs a very bad reputation. We all want our dogs to be protective of us but not overtly aggressive. Even small breeds can be very dangerous if not properly and treated. In the year 2000 a little pomeranian mix killed a six week old baby in Southern California. Does anyone agree blame the deed not the breed?

I agree entirely. Its was ridiculous all the bad press Staffys and Rotties got last year. Now whenever i talk to someone about a Rottie they frown and say ´Oh, they´ll chew your face off.´ Its exaasparetting explaining about Rotties to everyone i meet. They are such a lovable breed and i really adore them, and Staffys. The press just gives you what you want to hear and the people who actually know these breeds aren´t given a say...

It´s a pity to see what and how people think about animals - even in my town they make dogs status symbols - i hate to see them have other people coming to train their pets - walk them - feed them oh its awful - they probably do not understand the meaning of love at all

And unless you do something about the people it will just keep happening with new breeds.
When I was a kid it was Chows and German Shepherds that were "killers" then Rotties and now Pits--if you ban them then people will start fighting Presas or some other large breed that they can make into a bid, evil dog stereotype. Personally I have two pit mixes and a variety of other pets and the only one of mine that would injure/kill someone for fun is the cat.

they probably do not understand the meaning of love at all

And a dog´s love is unconditional..They don´t care what you look like, smell like, dress like...They love you warts and all.

here in northern ireland the staffie has got a lot of bad press. when out walking mine people cross the road to avoid them .. WHY??? the only thing my dogs will do is lick you to death. when people see the pups they say theyre lovely but when i say theyre staffs they lable them as dangerous dog. I believe its the way dogs are raised makes them act the way do not what kind they are

Jaay--I know people come right up to Henry when they see him and pet him (he´s a licker too) but then they´ll move away quickly when I say he´s a pit mix. And that´s after they´ve met him and seen what a sweetie he is. People are so stupid!!

too right

Okay, do you wants to know what my first dog was? A male rottie. I was four years old when my Grandma bought me my Ace, and I grew up with that dog. I was five years old and walking one of the biggest rotties ever, he´d listen to me, a five year old, and once protected me from the next door neighbors dog who got loose and was in our yard-the dog was a guard dog and NOT friendly. Ace just stood in front of me and growled, and the other dog took off. Ace never attacked our cats, or other dogs. He was so careful not to knock me over, once my uncle from Italy came down and was playfighting with me and Ace walked behind him and grabbed his coat and pulled him backwards. Whenever me and my sister playfought he´d bark, as if he wasn´t happy to see us looking like we were fighting. I was covered in doggie drool every day. Does that sound like such a horrible, violent breed? One who will allow a five year old to walk him at a year old and not even pull her over? Hrmph. People can be so ignorant. I agree-it´s the people´s faults, not the animals. I know a pit bull and he´s the friendlist thing ever. The media focuses on the bigger, muscle-dogs like the pitbulls, boxers and rotties, and makes people fear and hate these dogs. Meanwhile, if a smaller dog, or say...a lab or golden bit someone, you never hear about that. I agree that the muscle dogs DO attack more often-but look at why that is. They are made to be viscious and aggressive by their owners and by their breeders. It´s pathetic.